Laura P. O. V:

Shit is the first word that comes out of my mouth every single morning.

I got up late.
My body smells like a tartaric grape.
I haven't eaten.
The sun is so sunny and sweaty.
I barely got before the school gate closes.

And I just want to go back to bed right now.

As I walked past the corridor, Felix and Gabbie lounged near their lockers, as their fingers crawled over their phone . Mostly they will be seen along with Cass and Charlie, everyone happy with bright morning vibes laughing at each other.

Today, it's oddly gloomy. Like everyone is black and white.

They saw me, their bodies tensed but I walked past them as I was already late.

It was my fault. I involved my friends into my fight. I was determined that I should fix it.

***
Throughout my mundane schedule, I thought about how to solve this barrier of silent treatment.

Cass and Charlie were different these days after everyone was acquainted. Once where we talk about academics and sports, when it was strictly social. But now it's all personal stuff, like the favorite food, random review about movies, weird fetishes and anything deeper. And the best part of friendship is that they cared more for me that they left the boys who they liked.

I sat on the white chair on the furthest corner with Math homework. The unjustifiably bright sun was shining at my book, from the window nearby. I hid my legs under the oddly dark table.

A soft tap on my back got my attention as I turned to see Gabbie and Felix, slipping into the chair in front of me.

"Laura. We are really sorry for the fight. Chris shouldn't have done that.", Gabbie said.

"Oh God, it is fine. We got it figured out. Not a deal."

"Thank God! I thought we would never talk to you all again. Babe! You are so freakishly angry that I got scared.", Felix said.

"Yah. I know and I'm sorry. I was really angry."

"So I guess it's alright then?", Felix asked.

"Fair deal."

"Wait! If you figured your problem out, why is Cass so angry on me? I mean, I went to talk to her, she looked like she would gorge my intestines out.", Gabbie bewildered in his words.

"I haven't told them yet.", I laughed out.

"But I'm sure they miss you too.", I said, relief washing my tone.

"Well, better miss us than kill us. God! That look still gives me creeps.", Gabbie said, rubbing his shoulders warm.

I saw Charlie and Cass, busy talking to each other as they entered.

"Get down, quick.", I urged Gabbie and Felix to go under the table. They fought and struggled, their bodies bent out of shape and crumpled into the small space between me and the wall.

"Hey guys.", I waved at Charlie as they ushered towards me and took seats opposite to me.

Act cool. Act cool.

"Laura, what are you doing? Still upset?", Charlie said as her warm hands caught mine.

"Don't worry. We all got it secured.", Cass said, a mischief let out in her laugh.

"What?", I asked confused.

"We are going to show the boys what the real revenge means.", Charlie joined her, as I got hot and flushed. I heard moans and giggles from under the tables, as I stomped to alert them.

"What revenge?"

"There is a lot, actually"

"We bribed the waiter of our cafe to serve them stale food.", Cass said, both giggling hard.

"Oh my goodness."

"And we have got peppers, salt, red chilli, laxatives and old sock, just in case."

"Wait! Laxatives? That's cruel.", Gasps smothered under the table.

"What? They should know how it is to be a pain in the ass.", Charlie said.

Point accepted.

"But babes, don't you miss them?", Both became silent, their face lost its color, misery felt on their eyes.

"Yah, we do, A lot. You know, we all had a great time together. The sweet laugh of Gabbie, weird drunk stories, sensible advice from Christian, food fight.", Cass said in a melancholic tone

"Yah, food fight was best. Remember the time, when Felix gobbled pizza and was gassy all day. He was so freaking hot.", Charlie laughed.

"But they hurt you. You are important to us. And in no world will we ever leave your side."

"Even if I'm wrong?", I said in distressed voice.

"You won't be."

"No desicion is wrong, because at that time, it's all you wanted.", Cass said as we all hugged our hands together.

"I'm so lucky to have you all, but?"

"We figured out the problem. Now we all are even", Their face lit up with a clandestine bliss.

"What? How?"

"You know, things got simple. This and that, and we finally cleared things up."

"Wow, that's great."

"Yah. So no need for that pepper and salt."

"But, we racked our brains for the ideas. Damn. We should at least do the laxative.", Cass said, sardonically.

"Do it?", A grumpy voice heard from below the table, tables throbbing hard as they got up.

"Thinking to turn our insides out?", Felix got up, struggling from beneath and sat near me.

Cass and Charlie froze to death, their white face petrified with pure shock and their agape mouth. Their piercing eyes looked at my uncontrolled laughter on their priceless facial expression.

"Surprise!", Gabbie got up and squeezed into the space.

"We... We were... Joking.. we just talked..." Cass stammered.

"So, my laugh is sweet, huh?", Gabbie said, his face flushed with flirt and his eyebrows arched a perfect curve.

"And you think I'm hot?", Felix looked deep into Charlie's eyes, intensely romantic.

"Laura, you are dead meat.", They shouted at me, groping my arm hard to explain the bewildered situation.

"Sorry", I slipped away.

A message on my phone interrupted me.

To contestant,

This is a reminder to say that This is the last day for registration. Any entry after today won't be accepted and be disqualified.

Thanking you,
Dancestatic.

Goddamn it.

***

Am I going to be disqualified or worse fired from the club?

Hope you are happy with yourself, you real fuck-up.

*Sighs.*

Where is the goddamn freaking letter? Is it in my locker? My home? My class? Or with Chris?

I wish I was hit by a moving train. Or slip into coma.

*Sighs.*

Am I going to be a lap dancer for the rest of my life? I have no other goal other than dancing.

Where is Christian? God! I miss his voice

I'm never going to get my love of my life. David thinks I'm stupid already and now, I'm an immature, sloppy loser.

*Sighs.*

"Can you sigh any louder? It's the third loud sigh. What's wrong?", Gabbie laughed, not knowing about my messed up situation.

"I'm having the worst day of my life.", I said bluntly.

"Yah. I know, the school has run out of ketchup.", He pouted, as he squirted out the last drop.

"You think that's the worst!", I played with my food, swirling the pasta with my fork.

After hours of rummaging my little locker, turning it upside down I found out that I lost my call letter. And I have no freaking idea where I left it.

Yesterday was an emotional rollercoaster, I never knew where I was and scrambled across the corridor absent-minded. Library was the last searchout place I had in mind where I dropped my books.

There is no sign of Christian and David, which is strangely odd.

"What is bothering you?", Ethan sat near me with his plate of balanced diet.

"She is worried about David.", Charlie made fun of me.

"No, I'm not", I opposed.

"Don't worry. I heard he is on detention. He got community works to do.", Felix said, as remorse filled my empty void.

"Hey, it's not on you. Don't worry.", Ethan said, noticing my dull face.

"Ethan, I have something to talk.", I grabbed him and walked to the exit.

"Yesterday, at library. I lost my books..", I said as he handed me all the books I lost. Under the romantics, I saw my crumpled notebook, rapture squandered my poor heart.

I skimmed through the pages, swiftly turning away from him. But there was no sign of letter.

Where is that freaking letter?

"Looking for something?", Ethan asked me, doubtfully.

"No. Um.. nothing. I had something important in it. And now it's not here"

"All I saw was scribbling of David and you and your three children and big house and happily forever ending.", his whimsical voice sent chills to my spine.

"You saw those?"

Maybe he is hiding the letter. Or stole it. And burnt it. And act like he never seen it.

"I just skimmed the last pages. They always carried the untold stories", Ethan brushed his brown strands, a habit when he is nervous.

"Does he know?", An erratic question was thrown at me.

"A little."

"Love! It's getting interesting", He smiled.

***

It's evening. Only last few hours left.

Every nook and corner, every single dustbin, every empty classroom, even I broke down the entire library for a single piece of paper.

Tears blurred my eyes, seeing my passionate dream turning into dust on front of my eyes and I can do nothing but wave good bye. All due to my messy mind.

I had no choice other than to call David, saying I quit from the club and lead a ordinary life.

My fingers dialed his number and waited for him to attend.

I swallowed my regret and pain, trying to manage my voice.

Hello.

But no voice came out of my mouth.

Hello?

Silence still sounded. I can't find my voice to accept my defeat to my crush.

He..ll..o!

My voice broke from pain.

Laura? What happened? Are you alright? Is everything alright?

David! I'm... I'm so sorry.. I didn't do it intentionally... It was my.. fault..

Just freaking tell me what happened.

I... Lost.. the letter.

I heard a angry groan from the other side of the phone. I could imagine how flushed and tensed his face would be.

Are you kidding me? You are so fucking careless, Laura.

I .. swear.. I didn't lose it on purpose. I was aware of it.. I lost in the flick of time...

God! Stop it with the excuses. You are so annoying.

I am.. so ... Sorry.

Tears welled down out of control and my throat spasmed hard, no voice left to tell. My heart beat slowly and my breath interrupted, my body dropped dead chill and tachycardia clouded my consciousness.

He let out a sigh.

Alright. It's alright. What's done is done. Don't worry. I'll take care of it. Don't worry. Okay?

I'm sorry.

I will take care of this.

He hung up. Silence surrounded me, I was left alone and empty.

Twelve minutes later.

Dear contestant,

You entry had been successfully accepted. Further details will be sent to your email. Congratulations on entering your exquisite talent.

Thanking you.

***